Catholic Charities is thrilled to announce the two newest additions to our Head Start and Early Head Start programs!

St. Paul the Apostle Head Start and Early Head Start in New Orleans East

In New Orleans East, St. Paul the Apostle Head Start and Early Head Start center (6828 Chef Menteur Highway) will be opening in September. The new center will serve almost 200 children in total, including 148 Head Start students and 48 Early Head Start students.

The St. Paul the Apostle center is opening in a crucial location, as many of our current Head Start students are living in New Orleans East and commuting to other Head Start centers around the city. This new center will provide much needed early education to an under-served area.

Covenant House Early Head Start Serves Homeless Mothers

In addition to the St. Paul the Apostle center, Catholic Charities opened an Early Head Start location at Covenant House (611 N Rampart Street) earlier this spring. The Covenant House center can serve up to 20 children, ranging from six weeks to three years in age. While this new location will take some current students, Catholic Charities will also work closely with Covenant House to provide education to the children of homeless mothers that Covenant House serves.

Why Head Start Is Expanding In New Orleans

Catholic Charities is adding these new Head Start and Early Head Start facilities to better serve our community. President and CEO of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans, Sr. Marjorie Hebert, can explain it best:

“One of the riches of our Head Start program is the opportunity for our children at the earliest ages to learn that everybody is not the same. We strive for diversity in our classrooms, as well as bringing in special needs children. Most of our children are multi-lingual. That is one of the riches that not all schoolchildren get an opportunity to experience.

Deep in the Scriptures, Jesus says, ‘Let the little children come to me.’ That’s what Head Start is. Let the children come to me: children of all backgrounds, from all cultures and ethnicities.

Our children come from every distinct and different neighborhood in the New Orleans area, and we welcome that. That richness adds to the value of our program.

This year, the Church celebrates the year of mercy. We never pass up an opportunity to extend that hand, that action of mercy for the families. While the children are our primary focus, we have to be so attentive to all the adults who are part of the life of the child. Often times, it is a grandparent who is helping a daughter or grand-daughter to raise that child. It’s always an opportunity because of the socio-economic level of poverty to extend the loving hand of mercy to them as well as receive them and assure them all are welcome. No exclusions.”

How Can I Get Involved?

We are excited and humbled to expand our education services to families in need around New Orleans! Enrollment for the 2017-2018 school year will begin in December 2016. Learn more about the enrollment process and requirements for our Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

If you are a member of the New Orleans community who wants to see all children prosper, donate to support our Head Start and Early Head Start programs today.

New Orleans Head Start Locations: